Car door



0a. 6, 1931. A. CAMPBELL 1,826,049

CAR DOOR Fil ed Jan. 24. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 6, 1931. A. CAMPBELL 1,825,049

CAR DOOR Filed Jan. 24. 1929 a Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6,' 1931.

CAMPBELL cm noon 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 24. 1929 im/ewzvz 6027502552! any Patented Oct. 6, 1'1 931 UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE n 1 ARGYLE CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO -EN'.I.ER1RISE RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS OAR DOOR Application filed January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,614.

This invention relates to car doors. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a strong and light metallic car'door which will be braced in all directions, and wherein the use of countersunk rivets is avoided wherever possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door having a body portion made up of three metallic panels having manginal reinforcements along the top, bottom and side edges, and provided with diagonal braces adjacent the four corners, in conjunction with a continuous embossment in the central panel afl'ording both horizontal and vertical strength, and wherein the embossment is arranged to distribute or continue the strengthening properties of the marginal edge formations and diagonal braces throughout the length and breadth of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide for outward embossments of the panelling at the lower margin of the door for the purpose of providing additional space within which the door rollers may be contained.

A still further object of the invention is the bracing of the corners of the door by brackets each having a body section in the inner plane of the door and angularly related flanges connecting the horizontal and vertical walls of the framework of the door.

It is also an object of the invention to provide brackets at the inner side of the door to brace the marginal structure relative to the panelling to thereby prevent distortion of the sealing panel when the door abuts the door stops. I

ther and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

in the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of that portion of a box car illustrating the door and part of thefram'ing identified with the car construction. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevational view through the door taken on a line corresponding substantially to a line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on a line corresponding substantially to improvements in the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken through the door and car construction, said View being taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1, said view being broken intermediate the top and bottom margins of the door. Fig. 5 is a perspective view partially in section of an enlarged corner portion of the door taken on a line corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, this view showing in dotted lines the outer flanges of the door frame. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional detail View on a line corresponding substantially to a line 66 of Fig. 1, the view showing the door in its fully opened position and abutting the door stops on the car framing. Fig. 7 illustrates a somewhat ditferent embodiment of the construction at the bottom of the door, in which the outwardly extended pan-shaped embossment is disposed only at each of the door supporting brackets, instead of extending the full length of the door as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4.

As shown in the drawings, the car is provided with a door opening closed by the improved door construction which may be generally indicated by the reference character A. At the upper ortion of the door opening there is provide a Z-bar 10 having one flange 11 secured to the car'side wall, with the web projecting outwardly of the door opening and provided with a depend-' ing flange 12. To the flange 12 is secured a smaller Z-bar 13, arranged in such manner as to provide space between the free flange thereof and the adjacent portion of the flange 12 of the Z-bar 10, providing a guide for the upper end of the door, as best shown in Fig. 4. The front and rear door posts preferably are in the form of angular memhere 14 and 15, best shown in Fig. 3, each of the angle members having one flange se-. cured to the adjacent portions of the car wall by bolts indicated at 16, while the other flange projects outwardly substantially at rightangles to the wall of the car. The bottom of the door opening is defined by the floor 17 of the car covered by a threshold late 18. The outer margin of=the floor 17 earsaga'inst a block 19 which is secured to W g prises an upper-sheetmetal pane1 '35ja" lower sheet metal panel 1 36 and a central sheet metal panel- 37, all ofthe panels having ad of traek-supgorting brackets 22;, said 'etszbeing fixe "to the carstructure by floor 17 and threshold plate 18, the brackets also being supported by the bolts 21. Each of the brackets '22 at its outer end is out out as indicated at 24 to provide a guide, and

outwardly of the'cut-out portion an angular; member 25 is secured to each bracketilfl to rovide a track for rollers carried by the ooruas hereinafter referred to;

The; door proper,-' indicated generally the reference letter A, 'connorlsesav fraine- ,z,forthe forward edgeand ai'modifiefd' 'Zsbar o the bottom J 1 ofjtheyfran ccomprisinga fabr"ated s QEaoh of theiz bars'has'one'fiang I in the inner plane ofthe dooras indicated at" f 29,;1ndi the web" 30 extending ontivardly,snb{. 'jstantially atright sanglesi tothgiinncr plane,

di posed inwardlyyin Kline with; or d 0 V f the outer planeof meson frame:Q The" fflange 29 of the' ZjbarQTisfadapted'for' re- "eonstruction 28' at the rear edge,

t t h r i afleri erred, a mo of the door," with 1. the reniaining fianjnoj31' ception withinafi'grooved member atltached' to the doorpostlh The flange 29 of the 'Zbar 28 is curved as indicated at 33 to form a sealing'meniber which-oo operates door post 15. v

Thei coverlng for the door frame nomjacent overlapping edges secured together it by rivets indicated at 380. The top and side edges of the upper anel 35 are secured by rivets to the outer anges 31 of the Z-h'ars.

The adjacent edges of the central panel 37 are also secured to the flanges 31 of the Z- bars 27 and 28 by rivets. The side edges of the lower panel 36 are likewise secured to thefianges' 31 of the Z bars 2'7 and28, a

At the inner side, of the door'and lying *within thespace definedbythe websd30 of the z bars 26,27 and 28 arelipper diagon- 'ally 'd-isposed bracing oppositely arrange braces 39. Eachof the braces has a rearwardly extending embossment 390 and edge flanges 40, the embosslnent terminating short of the ends of the member to provide flat portions at opposite ends, one of the flat portions being secured to the inner side of the flange 31 of the Z-bar 27 by rivets 41,

and the opposite flattened end portion being secured by rivets 42 to the flange 31 of the top Z-bar 26, 'while the flanges 40 are seoured to the body portion of the panel 35 by rivets 43. the brace extending diagonally from the z-bar fldacross the juncture of the the side sill 200i the car by bolts indicated; P g at 21. Secured to the side sill 20 are aplw Y 'ralitl brac I 5 bolts 23 extending through the block '19,

P is i embos'sgnent having-vertical portions464%46 h r i A 1 formed adiacent; the side edges of theipanel v with' the. angular part 34 secured to the flan members 38 and lower, diagonally disposed;

enes '35 an 37 and being seemed to the same character exceptt'forfit sop 'osite dis position. The braces39 at the ottom' of theldoor. are arranged in the same manner asthose at the upper end of the door, ex-

tending from the 2am, 27 and 28 across the jo'int between the central panel 37 and s Iig llyofkthe zbar30s as best shownin Fig 1;; and '2. The: diagonalbraoefat-the1 .3 opposite upper; corner o fjthei door; is of; fthe i,

bottom panel 36, and being seouredto the outer, flan es 31 of the 2.41m 27 and28 at one set [ends and being secured at their i I oppositeset of ends to a fabrioatedbottoln "constructionhereinafter described in detail, both the panel'siiti andfiZ being secured'sto" *tliediagonal braces; Both of theipa'ne p j aro'providedwith afpluralityof L I if? 'n' i aa aesa n an I,

Central; panel; i

tlmvertieal portionsnierginginto upper, and

iowerliorizontal portionssfisoasto iorm a reotahgular continuous i corrugation or bOSSlllGl'lil Wllllrounded corners; "As best shown in Figure 3, the embossment. is so 5 formed that the outermost portion or crest of the embossmentindicated at 48 extends or protrudes outside ofthe Plane of the flanges inner flanges 29 of the'Z-bars and the outer the bottom of the embossmentin line with es 31 of the Zba rs, therebydisposingiil iil' -of theframe, while the oentralorq f dished portion 49 extends approximately 7 midway between the planes defined by'the the planes defined by the diagonal members "38 and 39, it being apparent that the embossed formation, in conjunction with theireg 1 inainingelements of: the door, results in extending or continuing the strengthrgiving' a qualities of v theupper and lower diagonal;

-1I18I1'1b61f8 from-one end ofthe door to the";

posite side thereof. I

other and from one side of thedoor to. the: op

providing means for carrying the rollers.

In providing the tubular formation, the lowxwThe: lower edge of the door is of peculiar i, formation and arranged to provide a tubular formation for strengthening the door and er edge of the panel 36 is provided with an" outwardly extending horizontally disposed embossment 50 which preferably term nates short of the'lower edges of the adjacent flanges 31 of the Z-bars'27 and 28, as indi cated at 5.1. At the lower extremity of the I embossment 50, there is provided an inward- ,ly extending, horizontally disposed web 52 having an opening 53 through which a roller I is adapted to project, the inner extremity of 29 of the Z-bars 27 and 28.

- the plane defined by the flanges 29 of the ner end of theaxle being supported in a plate ing a horizontally extending scribed in detail.

the web 52 terminating in a depending vertiilar to 7 O disposed in the inner plane of the cally arranged flange 54 which is offset to lie door. outwardly of the plane defined bv theflanges A facing plate is forced to obviate distortion when the door provided {which has a vertical flange 55 disis moved against stops. As best shown in posed against the inner side of the outer wall Figures 1' and 6, stops 71-71 are provided of the embossment 50, said facing late havon the car adapted to co-operate with the we 56 disrear edge of the door. The door in line with posed above the web 52, the web 56 extending each of the stops 71-71 is provided with a inwardly and merging into a vertically ar reinforcing bracket 72 having a flange bearranged portion 57 lying substantially withizn ing against the web of the Z-bar 28, and bars, the vertcal portion 57 having an oflset the panel, in this way preventing distortion 58 extending toward the outer plane of the at the edge of the door which might occur door and terminating in a vertically extenddue to the heavy impacts which must be ing flange 59 which abuts against the flange sustainedtherebyQ 54 and is secured thereto by full-headed In Fig. 7, there is shown a slightly differrivets 60, it being pointed out that by reason. ent form of the bottom construction of the of the offset construction beneath the tubular door and the manner in which the rollers formation, there is no necessity for. counterare associated therewith. In this form of sinking the securing rivets. the invention, the corrugation or embossment There are, of course, at least two rollers 50, instead of extending entirely between the associated with the door, but since they are rollers as shown in Fig. 1, is localized or rethe same in construction, only one will be dcstricted to a portion of the door immediately The roller construction in the vicinity of the roller, the embossment includes. a plate (31, the upper portion of being indicated at-730. Since the other parts which is riveted to the outer wall of the emof the roller construction are identical with bossment 50. being extended downwardly those heretofore described, the same referand provided with a bearing 62, and a guide ence characters Wlll be utilized in designatportion 630, the latter being adapted to coing like parts. operate with the track 25 to prevent too great By the above described arrangement, it

inward movement of the door. Disposed in will be appreciated that the strength-giving thebearing portion 62 is an axle 63 upon qualities of the diagonal members at the top which the roller proper 64 is mounted, the inand bottom of the door, in conjunction ith the corrugations in the upper and lower 640 secured to'thc flanges 54 and 59, the roll-' panels, ar ext nd d a d d continuous ncr guide adapted to co-operate with inner flanges 29 of the Z-bars of the latter brackets providing a plate simer projecting through the opening 53 in o through the provision of the corrugated centhe tubular formation. The plate 640 is protral panel wherein the plate-like portion of rided with an extension forming an inthe panel is'arranged within the plane of the the diagonal members, while the vertical and track to prevent outward movement of the h riz t l ti f th embossment i th door. central panel co-act with the adjacent por- The door is further reinforced by brackets tio of th diagonal m mbers "to liko i best shown in Figure 5, each corner Of the continue and enhance the re-inforcement of door being provided with one of the brackets, th do r ertically and horizontally, a w ll the upper brackets being indicated by the as in diagonal directions. The bottom conrcfcrence character 66 and the lower brackets t ti f the door provides a tubular by the reference character 670. Each of the formation of great strength which co-operbrackets comp r? ses a flange 67 secured to the te with an offset roller construction permitweb 30 o th 26 and an fl gu fl fi" ting the use of full-headed rivets and avoidextending flange 68, in Fig. 5, s-ecuredto the ing the-necessity for counter-sinking rivets web 30 of the Z-bar 28, by rivets indicated at points where the weakness due to this facat 69. At the inner or real e ges of h tor has heretofore caused considerable difliflange portions 67 and 68, there is formed a culty. The formation and disposition of the plate-like member which integrally concorner brackets is such that a plate-like mem nects the flanges 67 and 68, the plate 7 O and her of substantial depth is presented edgethe flanges 67 and 68 being so proportioned wise to the stresses imposed thereon and afthat the'plate 70 lies in the inner plane of fords its strength-giving qualities in the inthe door or substantially coincident with the \ner plane of the door, thereby obviating 26, 27 and 28. weaknesses which have hitherto existed in The brackets 670 at the bottom of the door this portion of the door.

are, of course, reversed in position, the flange lVhile I have herein shown and described 67 of each one being secured to the horizonwhat I now consider the preferred manner tally extending web 56 of the faceplate, each of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all being provided with a flange 73 secured to Therear edge of the door is also rein- I changes andmodiflcations that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim 1. In a car door having a framework of appreciable depth, said door having panelling disposed in the outer plane of the framework, said panellin having a lower marginal portion inwardly irected to present an inwardly extending horizontal web and downwardl extending flange spaced from the inner p ane of the door; and a facing plate disposed in alignment with the inner face of the door and secured to the panelling above the horizontal web to provide with the panelling and web a tubular formation, said plate being offset outwardly and downwardly below the tubular formation and secured to the downwardly depending flange of the panelling said secured portions being disposed beneath the major depth of the doorand protected by the overhanging portions thereof.

2. In a sliding car door, the combination with vertical marginal members of appreciable depth, said members having inwardly extending flanges; of metal panelling secured to said flanges, said panelling at the lower margin of the door being deflected inwardly to provide a horizontally extending wall and downwardly to provide a depending flange, said depending flange being spaced intermediate the inner and outer planes of the vertical marginal members; and a facing plate secured to the inner face of the door above the horizontal wall and having a portion disposed downwardly substantially in alignment with the inner plane of the marginal members, said plate being outwardly offset at its lower margin toward, and joined by rivets to, the depending flange of the panelling, the joint thus formed being disposed beneath the major depth of the door and within the inner and outer planes of the marginal members.

In a sliding car door having a marginal framework of appreciable depth, said door having panelling disposed in the outer plane of the framework, said panelling being deflected inwardly and thence downwardly to present a depending flange, and a face plate disposed at the inner plane of the door adjacent the lower margin thereof, said facing plate adjacent its upper portion being deflected inwardly and upwardly and united by said last named portion with the panelling, said facing plate at the lower margin of the door being deflected outwardly and downwardly to present a depending flange adapted to overlie the depending flange of the panelling, and roller supporting means having portions overlying the outer face of the panelling and the outer surface of the depending flange, said respective faces of the panelling and the face plate being united with the roller supporting means by rivets having the heads thereof disposed below and entirel withinithe depth of said door, whereby sai rivet heads on the inner face of the door clear the inner face of the facin plate.

4. In a sliding car door the combination with a marginal framework of appreciable depth; of panelling disposed substantially in the outer plane of the door, a facing plate disposed substantially in the inner plane of the door; said facing plate and body panelling being deflected inwardly towards each other and formed with depending flanges adapted to be riveted together, said depending flanges and the rivet heads being disposed within the plane of the door; and door carrying brackets secured to the outer face of the panelling and to the depending flange thereof, said panelling adjacent the bracket having an outwardly extending pan-shaped embossment outstanding from the main plane of the door and door rollers carried by said brackets, said rollers being extended within the embossment.

5. In a car door, the combination with a framework of appreciable depth including upper horizontal and side vertical marginal members, said members having flanges in the outer plane of the framework; of metallic panelling overlying the said flanges of the marginal members and secured thereto, said panelling at its lower end being bent inwardly to present a horizontal flange and thence downwardly to present a depending flange, said panelling at its lower end being rigiditied by a pan-shaped embossment formed in the plate and extending outwardly beyond the outer plane of the framework; and a face plate substantially in the inner plane of the framework, said face plate being provided with upper and lower ofl'sets respectively connected with the inner face of the panel and the depending flange. said face plate member and the pan-shaped embossment cooperating to provide a tubular formation at the lower margin of the door of grealter depth than the depth of the framewor 6. In a car door formed of appreciable depth, a door having a lower margin in the form of a Z shape with a wall horizontal and a depending flange; a bracket overlying said door and secured to the depending flange and to the main body section of the panel; a roller carried by said bracket and having a portion thereof extended through the horizontal wall of the Z-shaped portion, said door being provided at the roller with a bulged out portion to present a door of increased depth for the purpose of accommodating the roller therein.

7. A metallic car door of appreciable depth and having an offset lower edge construction comprising a plurality of plies of sheet metal shaped to provide a tubular formation with depending flanges, the outer defining wall of said tubular formation being offset outwardly beyond the main plane of the door and the depending the inner plane of the door.

8. A metallic car door of appreciable depth and having an offset loweredge construction comprising a plurality of plies of sheet metal shaped to provide a tubular formation with depending flanges, the outer defining wall of said tubular formation being offset outwardly beyond the main plane of the door and the depending flanges being offset outwardly of the inner plane of the door; and roller-supporting means having portions overlying the outer wall of the tubular formation and the outer surface of the depending flanges and secured to said wall and flanges, said roller extending into said tubular formation.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of January, 1929.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL.

flanges being ofi'set outwardly of 

